Jaffna traders support Govt’s efforts to carry supplies

COLOMBO: Twelve traders from Jaffna, under the facilitation of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCISL) have undertaken to ship 2,000 metric tones of goods from Colombo to Jaffna (on a weekly basis) in support of the ongoing efforts of the Government to supply the needs of the people in the Jaffna peninsula.

This partnership marks a new beginning since the un-provoked LTTE attacks at Muhamalai in August 2006, states a SCOPP report.

The government has already shipped over 80,000 metric tones of essential goods to Jaffna since mid - August 2006, even though some of the ships have come under pre - meditated attacks of the LTTE (On the 21st January ‘07, the cargo vessel ‘City of Liverpool’ which was anchored just outside the Kankasanthurai (KKS) harbour after unloading essential food supplies in Jaffna was attacked by the LTTE Sea Tigers, resulting in damage to the hull of the cargo vessel).

The significance of this initiative is that the private traders have assumed total responsibility for any loss or damage to the ship or cargo. This demonstrates the commitment of the Jaffna traders towards supporting the Government efforts in continuing the supply of goods to meet the needs of the people of Jaffna.

The goods that are being shipped to Jaffna on MV Induruwa Valley (VOY.05) on March 28, amounted to, 70 categories of items including: Milk powder, Rice, Sugar, Bicycle Tyres, Poojah Items (incense sticks etc), Medicine (Cardiac and Asthmatic), equivalent to one lorry load, Household Items (Washing powder, soap and toothpaste), Animal Feed, Pulses and grains, Jaggery, SME Industrial raw material and Health Care items. Notwithstanding LTTE obduracy, the Government with the support of the private traders and Chambers of Commerce will continue to do its utmost to address the needs of the people of the Jaffna Peninsula and ameliorate their living conditions.

The above initiative signals a new dimension in the combined Public-Private sector efforts towards peace building and provision of humanitarian assistance.